Umbrella shield



C. M. JACKSON UMBRELLA SHIELD Oct. 6, 1964 Filed Nov. 5, 1962 INVENTOR. Cad ores M. Jocksen AZTQRNEY United States Patent 3,151,621 UMBRELLA Si-MLI) Caderes N. Jackson, 23%) Grand Blvd, Westbury, Long island, N31. Filed Nov. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 235,234 Claims. (Cl. 135l6) This invention relates in general to umbrella curtains and more particularly to an umbrella shield securable to the ribs of conventional umbrellas and adapted to depend therefrom peripherally of the opened umbrella, to thus protect the user against the wetting discomfort attendant with angularly descending rain, rain accompanied by winds, and/ or splashing occasioned by other causes.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice of the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the novel parts constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein'shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the umbrella shield according to the present invention shown operatively positioned peripherally of a conventional umbrella;

FIGURE 2 is a plan elevational view of the combination illustrated in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational View of the elongate spool showing the flexible strip material unwound therefrom;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the upper end of the spool showing the roll-up relation between the strip material and said spool; and

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a folded umbrella and the instant umbrella shield arranged in the inoperative stored position.

The invention is essentially directed to improving the protective character of umbrellas through the provision of means capable of shielding the user against the side spray or wash of the rain.

More specificall an object of the present invention resides in the provision of a rain shield adapted to encircle the entire periphery of an umbrella and depend therefrom, said rain shield being conveniently storable upon an elongate spool during periods of non-use.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of an umbrella curtain of the foregoing character which may be readily attached to a conventional umbrella and which may be readily and expediently removed therefrom.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an auxiliary rain shield which may be adapted to con ventional umbrellas, there being no requirement for modification or alteration of said umbrellas.

Another object of the invention is the prow'sion of an urnbrella shield, said shield being removably attachable to a folded umbrella for transportation therewith.

Still another object of the instant invention is the provision of an umbrella shield comprised of a self-contained unit including a spool and a length of flexible strip material rolled thereon, the entire unit being securable to an umbrella in either the functional or nonuse position.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which will be simple and inexpensive of manufacture, highly efiicient in use, positive in action and a general improvement in the art.

It will be understood that the foregoing general objectives are exemplary and explanatory but are not restrctive of the invention, there being other features and advan- 3,l5l,62l Patented Get. 6, 1964 tages, some of which, together with the foregoing, will be specifically set forth in the detailed description of the preferred form of the invention hereunto annexed.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, FIGURE 3 shows the umbrella shield designated generally by numeral 1. In general, the elements comprising the complete device according to this invention consist of an elongate spool 2, a length of flexible strip material 4, rollably received thereon, and fiange plates 6 and 8 secured to the ends of said elongate spool.

It will be appreciated that the strip material may be of any suitable construction, e.g. polyethylene, and preferably transparent thereby preserving the complete visual scope of the user. With continuing reference to the drawings, it will be observed that the dimensions of the fiexible strip material 4- are characterized by the width of the elongate spool and the circumference of the umbrella to which it is to be adapted, transverse ends it and 12 and longitudinal side edges 14 and 16 being definitive of its configuration. Eyelet openings 13, positioned adjacently of side edge 14, are spaced as shown, with respect to one another, and extend the length of said strip material. Said eyelet openings are umbrella shield designated generally by numeral 1. The

Hook eyelet 22, extending upwardly of said flange plate 6, is provided to function as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, i.e., as fastening means for removably securing the elongate spool to the extremity portion 24 of a rib 26 of an umbrella. Similarly do said eyelet openings 18, which are removably receivable upon said extremity portions 24, function to support the strip material peripherally of the umbrella, resilient grommets 26 providing a pressure fit thus precluding accidental slippage of said eyelet openings from said rib extremities.

Hook members 28 and 39, attached to side edges 14, 16 in the region of transverse end 1i of said strip material, are adapted for coaction with hook receiving projections 32 and 34, respectively, provided integrally with said flange plates 6 and 8. To that end, it will be understood, that said rollable strip material may be secured to said spool by means of said hook members and said hook receiving projections, either during utilization of the umbrella shield as shown in FIGURE 1 or during storage thereof as shown in FIGURE 5.

To facilitate transporting the instant device during periods of non-use, ferrule hook 36 is provided integrally, as shown, upon flange plate 6. Accordingly, it will, upon reference to FIGURE 5, be seen that said ferrule hook 36 is receivable through opening 38 upon ferrule 40 of folded umbrella 42. Binding strap 44, commonly provided on umbrellas of the conventional type, supplements the retentive effect of said ferrule hook furnishing holding means at the other end of the spool, containing the rolled strip material.

Consonant with the forego ng, it will be apparent that applying the present device to an open umbrella, in the flexible strip material 4, normally rolled upon elongate spool 2, is connected by eyelet openings 18 to rib extremities 24, the roll strip material being first partially unwound, the eyelet opening proximate with respect to transverse end 119 being the first to be received by a rib extremity. The material is thereafter progressively unrolled, eyelet openings, in the order of their appearance, being connected to respective rib extremities. Once the umbrella circumference is bounded by strip material as shown in FIGURE 2, the hook eyelet 22 is connected to a suitable rib extremity and the entire unwound elongate spool is permitted to depend as does the strip material as shown in FIGURE 1. Hook members 28, 3d are then secured to hook receiving projections 32, 34 as previously 3 described, the assembly being complete; removal of the device from the umbrella being readily accomplished by reversing the aforesaid procedure.

While the foregoing description was essentially directed to the structural embodiment illustrated in the drawings, it will be understood that the construction which may be utilized in carrying out the invention is, of course, subject to modification without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Structures, e.g., for attaching the umbrella shield to an umbrella, being multiplicious, means other than described herein are contemplated by the inventor. Hooks, snaps, magnets, etc., it will be realized, may be employed to secure the shield peripherally of an umbrella, portions other than the rib extremities being suitable for attachment of said shield thereto. Accordingly, therefore, it will be further understood that the materials of construction may be synthetic or natural, metallic or non-metallic and that changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts from that disclosed herein Without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of the attendant advantages thereof, provided however, that such changes fall Within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a spool and a length of flexible strip material rollably received thereon, said spool being elongate and having flange plates secured to the ends thereof, hook receiving projections extending from said flange plates and a hook eyelet extending from one of said flanges, said fiexible strip material being substantially the width of said spool and including ends and first and second side edges, a plurality of eyelet openings adjacent said first side edge, said openings being respectively spaced and extending the length of said strip material, hook members provided at one end of said strip material in the region of the side edges thereof, said hook members being adapted for securement to said hook receiving projections, the other end of said strip material being fastened to said elongate spool transversely thereof, said hook eyelet and said plurality of eyelet openings being removably receivable upon the extremity portions of the ribs of an umbrella, whereafter attachment, said combination depends as a shield peripherally of the umbrella.

2. In combination, a spool and a length of flexible strip material rollably received thereon, said spool being elongate and having an upper and a lower end, a hook receiving projection extending from each end and a hook eyelet extending from said upper end, said flexible strip material being substantially the width of said spool and including transverse ends and first and second longitudinal side edges, a plurality of eyelet openings adjacent said first side edge, said openings being respectively spaced and extending the length of said strip material, hook members secured at one transverse end of said strip material in the region of the side edges thereof, said hook members being adapted for securement to said hook receiving projections, the other end of said strip material being fastened to said spool, said hook eyelet and said plurality of eyelet openings being removably receivable upon the extremity portions of the ribs of an umbrella, whereafter attachment, said combination depends as a shield peripherally of the umbrella.

3. A shield for umbrellas comprised of a spool having a length of flexible strip material rollaby received thereon, said spool being elongate and having an upper and a lower end, a hook receiving projection extending from each end and a hook eyelet extending from said upper end, said flexible strip material being substantially the Width of said spool and including transverse ends and first and second longitudinal side edges, a plurality of eyelet openings adjacent said first side edge, said openings being respectively spaced and extending the length of said strip material, hook members secured at one transverse end of said strip material in the region of the side edges thereof, said hook members being adapted for securement to said hook receiving projections, the other end of said strip material being fastened to said spool, said hook eyelet and said plurality of eyelet openings being removably receivable upon the extremity portions of the ribs of an umbrella, whereafter attachment, said shield depends peripherally of the umbrella, and connector means for connecting said shield to the ferrule of the umbrella when said umbrella is in the folded position.

4. A shield for umbrellas according to claim 3, wherein said connector means comprises a ferrule hook integral with said upper end of said spool, said ferrule hook having an opening at one end, said opening being receivable upon the ferrule of a folded umbrella while said spool is disposed in parallel contiguous relation with respect to the folded umbrella.

5. In combination, a spool and a length of flexible strip material rollably received thereon, said spool being elongate and having flange plates secured to the ends thereof, hook receiving means integral With said flange plates, said flexible strip material being substantially the width of said spool and including ends and first and second side edges, umbrella connecting means adjacent said first side edge, hook members provided at one end of said strip material in the region of the side edges thereof, said hook members being adapted for securement to said hook receiving means, the other end of said strip material being fastened to said elongate spool transversely thereof, said umbrella connecting means being removably securable peripherally of an opened umbrella, Whereafter attachment, said combination depends as a shield peripherally of the umbrella.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 237,805 Brooks Feb. 15, 1881 574,091 Irvine Dec. 29, 1896 1,774,909 Wells Sept. 2, 1930 2,502,984 Parmenter Apr. 4, 1950 2,723,714 Moore Nov. 15, 1955 

5. IN COMBINATION, A SPOOL AND A LENGTH OF FLEXIBLE STRIP MATERIAL ROLLABLY RECEIVED THEREON, SAID SPOOL BEING ELONGATE AND HAVING FLANGE PLATES SECURED TO THE ENDS THEREOF, HOOK RECEIVING MEANS INTEGRAL WITH SAID FLANGE PLATES, SAID FLEXIBLE STRIP MATERIAL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE WIDTH OF SAID SPOOL AND INCLUDING ENDS AND FIRST AND SECOND SIDE EDGES, UMBRELLA CONNECTING MEANS ADJACENT SAID FIRST SIDE EDGE, HOOK MEMBERS PROVIDED AT ONE END OF SAID STRIP MATERIAL IN THE REGION OF THE SIDE EDGES THEREOF, SAID HOOK MEMBERS BEING ADAPTED FOR SECUREMENT TO SAID HOOK RECEIVING MEANS, THE OTHER END OF SAID STRIP MATERIAL BEING FASTENED TO SAID ELONGATE SPOOL TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, SAID UMBRELLA CONNECTING MEANS BEING REMOVABLY SECURABLE PERIPHERALLY OF AN OPENED UMBRELLA, WHEREAFTER ATTACHMENT, SAID COMBINATION DEPENDS AS A SHIELD PERIPHERALLY OF THE UMBRELLA. 